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Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sentenced to Death for Crimes Against Humanity
Dhaka, Bangladesh – In a move that sent ripples through the international community, a court in Bangladesh has handed down a death sentence to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The verdict, announced on Monday, found Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity for her alleged role in a brutal crackdown on a student-led uprising last year, which the United Nations estimates claimed up to 1,400 lives.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), a domestic war crimes court located in the capital city of Dhaka, also issued a death sentence to Hasina’s home minister, Asaduzzaman Khan. The three-member tribunal delivered its ruling during a multi-hour session that was broadcast live.
Both Hasina, 78, and Khan fled to India in August of last year and were sentenced in absentia. A third individual, a former police chief, received a five-year prison sentence after cooperating as a state witness against Hasina and pleading guilty to crimes against humanity.
The ICT, established in 2009 to prosecute war crimes from Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence, has faced scrutiny from human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch (HRW) for allegedly falling short of international standards. Following Monday’s verdict, HRW’s South Asia deputy director, Meenakshi Ganguly, reiterated calls for a credible justice system and the abolition of capital punishment.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, however, maintained that Hasina, convicted of charges including ordering lethal force by her security services, received a fair trial. Islam stated that the tribunal was modeled after the Nuremberg trials and met all international standards, emphasizing that the defense was afforded ample time to respond, though the accused’s fugitive status limited their ability to provide testimony.
Hasina vehemently denied the verdict, labeling it as biased and politically motivated. In a statement released through a public relations firm, she denounced the tribunal as being established and presided over by an “unelected government with no democratic mandate.” She denied ordering the killing of protesters and asserted that she was denied a fair chance to defend herself or choose her legal representation.
The uprising that led to Hasina’s downfall began in July 2024, fueled by public grievances over government corruption and initially demanding the abolition of government job allocations. It quickly evolved into a broader anti-government movement, culminating in Hasina’s resignation after 15 years in power and her subsequent flight from the country.
Monday’s ruling comes amidst ongoing instability and violence in Bangladesh, with tensions escalating in the days leading up to the verdict. The interim government, led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, heightened security measures, deploying paramilitary border guards and police across Dhaka and other regions, with soldiers surrounding the tribunal premises.
Experts fear that the verdict could re-ignite the cycle of political violence that has plagued Bangladesh. Naomi Hossain, a development studies professor, suggested that while many may perceive this as a form of justice, it could also be seen as “political revenge” rather than a path to peace and reconciliation.
In the wake of the verdict, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs urged India to extradite Hasina and Khan. India’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged the tribunal’s decision but did not explicitly state whether it would comply with the extradition request.
Hasina cannot appeal the verdict unless she returns to Bangladesh, a move that could further destabilize the nation’s volatile political landscape. Yunus has also banned the activities of Hasina’s Awami League party ahead of elections scheduled for February.